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Iraq closes Abu Ghraib prison amid security concerns Iraq closes Abu Ghraib prison amid security concerns
(35 minutes later)
Iraq has closed the Abu Ghraib jail made infamous by Saddam Hussein's regime and later US forces after a mass breakout last year, the justice ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.Iraq has closed the Abu Ghraib jail made infamous by Saddam Hussein's regime and later US forces after a mass breakout last year, the justice ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Iraq is suffering a protracted surge in violence that has claimed more than 2,550 lives so far this year, and the area west of Baghdad where the prison is located is particularly insecure. All 2,400 inmates arrested or sentenced for terrorism-related offences have been transferred to other facilities in central and northern Iraq.Iraq is suffering a protracted surge in violence that has claimed more than 2,550 lives so far this year, and the area west of Baghdad where the prison is located is particularly insecure. All 2,400 inmates arrested or sentenced for terrorism-related offences have been transferred to other facilities in central and northern Iraq.
"The ministry of justice announced the complete closure of Baghdad Central Prison, previously Abu Ghraib, and the removal of the inmates in cooperation with the ministries of defence and justice," it said in an online statement. "The ministry of justice announced the complete closure of Baghdad central prison, previously Abu Ghraib, and the removal of the inmates in co-operation with the ministries of defence and justice," it said in an online statement.
Justice minister Hassan al-Shammari said the Iraqi government had taken the decision as a precautionary measure since Abu Ghraib prison is "in a hot area". The justice minister Hassan al-Shammari said the Iraqi government had taken the decision as a precautionary measure since Abu Ghraib prison was "in a hot area".
It was not immediately clear whether the closure was temporary or final.It was not immediately clear whether the closure was temporary or final.
The prison is located between Baghdad and Falluja, which has been held by anti-government fighters since early January.The prison is located between Baghdad and Falluja, which has been held by anti-government fighters since early January.
The prison served as a notorious torture centre under now-executed dictator Saddam Hussein, with an estimated 4,000 detainees perishing there. The prison served as a notorious torture centre under the now-executed dictator Saddam Hussein, with an estimated 4,000 detainees dying there.
Abu Ghraib later became a byword for abuses carried out by US forces following the 2003 invasion when photographs surfaced the following year showing Iraqi detainees being humiliated by US guards, igniting worldwide outrage.Abu Ghraib later became a byword for abuses carried out by US forces following the 2003 invasion when photographs surfaced the following year showing Iraqi detainees being humiliated by US guards, igniting worldwide outrage.
In July 2013, militants assaulted Abu Ghraib prison and another in Taji, north of Baghdad.In July 2013, militants assaulted Abu Ghraib prison and another in Taji, north of Baghdad.
Officials said hundreds of inmates escaped and over 50 prisoners and members of the security forces were killed in the assaults, which were claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a powerful jihadist group. Officials said hundreds of inmates had escaped and more than 50 prisoners and members of the security forces had been killed in the assaults, which were claimed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, a powerful jihadist group.
Iraq has been hit by a year-long surge in violence, driven principally by widespread anger among the Sunni Arab minority, who say they are mistreated by the Shiite-led government and security forces, as well as by the civil war in neighbouring Syria. Iraq has been hit by a year-long surge in violence, driven principally by widespread anger among the Sunni Arab minority, who say they are mistreated by the Shia-led government and security forces, as well as by the civil war in neighbouring Syria.
Violence in Iraq has killed more than 340 people since the beginning of the month, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.Violence in Iraq has killed more than 340 people since the beginning of the month, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.